Yorkshire captain Craig White was today seeking his first century in two seasons having stopped his side from falling apart in the Roses match at Old Trafford.

White, who has now hit seven Championship half-centuries this summer, had made a defiant 71 by the close yesterday as Yorkshire recovered from a shaky 214-5 to 324-6.

Before White came to the crease at 176-4, Matthew Wood had dominated the middle as he, too, tried to reach three figures for the first time this year, but his brave attempt ended on 86 when he cut hard at James Anderson and was caught at backward point by Andrew Symonds.

Yorkshire won the toss and batted first on a dry pitch, but could yet regret omitting left-arm spinner David Wainwright because slow bowlers may play a big part in the outcome.

With the Roses rivals both fighting for promotion, the cricket was competitive all day and Yorkshire were given a solid 58 start in 19 overs before Joe Sayers twice edged Glen Chapple to the slips off consecutive balls. The first was put down at second slip by Mark Chilton and Stuart Law failed to grasp the rebound, but the second saw Law hold on low down at first slip.

Anthony McGrath looked more settled than Wood as they added 60 but McGrath then edged Chapple's away swinger and was caught behind for 35, while Phil Jaques was lbw after being hit on the back pad by Symonds.

Wood's sensible innings lasted 169 balls and contained 12 fours and when he was gone White found resolute partners who got out just when appearing to be well set.

Michael Lumb was bowled for a stylish 34 when sweeping at former Yorkshire left-armer Gary Keedy and Ismail Dawood moved confidently to 28 in a 54 stand before slicing a drive at Marcus North to Law at slip.

At 286-6, Yorkshire were under-achieving but Richard Dawson supplied the support which White sought and the captain moved effortlessly to his half-century from 102 deliveries with seven fours.

Lancashire, ringing the changes all day, took the new ball at 294-6 in 90 overs but it did not unsettle the seventh wicket pair and White brought up the 300 with an exquisite drive through extra cover off Dominic Cork.

The penultimate ball of the day was struck to the cover boundary by Dawson to make the stand worth 56 in 16 overs, play ending with honours evenly shared.

SCOREBOARD

Frizzell County Championship

Division Two

(Today is day 2 of 4)

Lancashire v Yorkshire

(at Old Trafford)

Yorkshire First Innings

Wood c Symonds b Anderson 86

Sayers c Law b Chapple 14

McGrath c Hegg b Chapple 35

Jaques lbw b Symonds 14

Lumb b Keedy 34

White not out 71

Dawood c Law b North 28

Dawson not out 27

Extras b4 lb5 w4 nb2 15

Total 6 wkts (104 overs) 324

Fall: 1-58 2-118 3-148 4-176 5-214 6-268

Bowling: Anderson 18-2-72-1 Cork 21-4-52-0 Chapple 18-1-62-2 Keedy 20-4-60-1 Symonds 20-5-53-1 North 7-2-16-1

New Road: Worcestershire 20-0 (4 ov) v Somerset 318 (97.3 ov; Gazzard 74, Suppiah 72).

Derby: Derbyshire 272-6 (104 ov; Stubbings 64, Adnan 52) v Essex.

Division One

Lord's: Middlesex v Sussex 522-9 (104 ov; Yardy 179, Naved 139, Davis 50no).

The Brit Oval: Surrey 29-1 (6 ov) v Gloucester-shire 350 (96 ov; Adshead 148no, Gidman 84).

totesport National League

Division Two

Riverside: Leicestershire 113 (32.2 ov; Lewis 4-13) v Durham 116-2 (26.2 ov; Collingwood 51no). Durham (4pts) bt Leics (0pts) by 8 wkts

Updated: 11:42 Wednesday, August 17, 2005